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Big Bill Broonzy

Big Bill Broonzy (born Lee Conley Bradley; June 26, 1893 or 1903 – August 14, 1958) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His career began in the 1920s, when he played country music to mostly African-American audiences. In the 1930s and 1940s, he navigated a change in style to a more urban blues sound popular with working-class black audiences. In the 1950s, a return to his traditional folk-blues roots made him one of the leading figures of the emerging American folk music revival and an international star. His long and varied career marks him as one of the key figures in the development of blues music in the 20th century.

Broonzy copyrighted more than 300 songs, including adaptations of traditional folk songs and original blues songs. As a blues composer, he was unique in writing songs that reflected his rural-to-urban experiences.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 26, 1893 (Scott County), Died August 14, 1958 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1953

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist, composer, lyricist, songwriter, speaker

Notes: Often billed as Big Bill; composer credits as Williard Broonzy.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 251 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-034812 10-in. 5/17/1939 Against my will Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-034813 10-in. 5/17/1939 Talking to myself Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-034814 10-in. 5/17/1939 Hard drivin' woman Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-034815 10-in. 5/17/1939 Keyhole blues Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-034816 10-in. 5/17/1939 Somebody been talking to you Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-034817 10-in. 5/17/1939 One time blues Jazz Gillum ; Jazz Boys Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040525 10-in. 7/21/1939 Bad luck blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040526 10-in. 7/21/1939 My little baby Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040527 10-in. 7/21/1939 Doggin' my love around Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040528 10-in. 7/21/1939 Little low woman blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040529 10-in. 7/21/1939 Good for nothing blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040530 10-in. 7/21/1939 Sugar mama blues no. 2 Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040531 10-in. 7/21/1939 Good gravy Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and guitar instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040532 10-in. 7/21/1939 T.B. blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040533 10-in. 7/21/1939 Something going on wrong Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040534 10-in. 7/21/1939 Good gal blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040535 10-in. 7/21/1939 Joe Louis and John Henry blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040536 10-in. 7/21/1939 Thinking my blues away Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040537 10-in. 7/21/1939 I'm not pleasing you Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040538 10-in. 7/21/1939 New "Jailhouse blues" Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040539 10-in. 7/21/1939 Lifetime blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040540 10-in. 7/21/1939 Miss Ida Lee Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040541 10-in. 7/21/1939 Tell me, baby Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-040542 10-in. 7/21/1939 Honey bee blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, and piano instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-044974 10-in. 5/9/1940 Romance in the dark Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio songwriter  
(Results 51-75 of 251 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Broonzy, Big Bill," accessed June 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656.

Broonzy, Big Bill. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656.

"Broonzy, Big Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 June 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108656

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